Gary Reeves
ARTISAN DETAILS
INTRODUCTION
Navajo silversmith Gary Reeves could possibly be one of the most recognized names in this industry. His work is found on websites all over the world and his showcase in our Trading Post always seems to have someone looking at it. He concentrates on filling his old style silver with lots of stamp patterns and using good pieces of turquoise, a winning combination.
HALLMARK
Gary Reeves
1975 to 2014
TRIBE:
Navajo
STYLE:
Intricate, deep stampwork and gorgeous turquoise
FAMILY:
Cadman, Andy - Cadman, Darrell - Cadman, Donovan - Reeves, Sunshine
FIRST YEAR MAKING ART:
1975
LAST YEAR MAKING ART:
2014
ARTISAN INTERVIEW
I know you are an avid golfer, how long have you been playing?
I started about 6 years ago, my friend Herbert Long got me started.
What is your handicap?
14, the best score I have recorded is a 82 on the Grants course.
When the weather permits how many times do you play a week?
I try to play on the weekends, usually at the Gallup or Grants course.
I know your brother Darrell Cadman thinks of nothing else but hunting. Do you do any hunting?
The last hunt I was on was about 4 years ago.
Where and what type of hunting do you enjoy?
I do both Reservation and State hunting, and have done bow, rifle, and muzzle loader hunts.
I know most of your time is spent making jewelry, when did you start?
I started making jewelry when I was around 12 years old, simple rings, lots of cast stuff, and leaf work.
Where did you grow up and go to school?
I grew up in Twin Lakes and went to school in Tohatchi.
So the jewelry you are making, are you selling it in Tohatchi?
No, I was working for a shop in Gallup, Loco Trader. It was owned by a Kathy Craig, she isn’t there anymore. It was located by the train station downtown.
How much jewelry are you making at 12 years old?
I was just starting out. When I entered 9th grade I was working fulltime for Kathy. My brother Leroy was there and I was making around $200 a week.
What year is this?
It was around 1975.
That’s pretty good money at 15 years old and in the 1970s?
Yes, it was nice.
Is that the only place you made jewelry?
She had a shop, so we all worked at there, and I did the same for another shop by the airport in Gallup. Just those two places.
Before we go on, what did you use as a hallmark when you first started, and the ones since?
G.REEVES was my first stamp, about 10 years ago I changed to greeves that was a script style, then used GARYREEVES for about a year, next was GReeves (script), and now the same but a star above Reeves.
Back to jewelry, you are working for two shops in Gallup, whats next?
I went to work in Albuquerque for a shop, that is where I started making the style I still do today. I was in Albuquerque until we moved back in 2000. My wife Marilyn wanted to come back here.
So when you came back to Gallup that is when you went out on your own?
Yes, my son Bo helps me with buffing and doing some cutting, but all the rest is me.
I remember around 2000 you had a website, maybe reevesnavajosilversmithing.com, how did that come about?
Marilyn worked with someone who knew how to do websites, so he made that for me. He went to work somewhere else and we didn’t know how to keep it up, so that was the end of the site.
Did you get any feedback from the site?
I never had enough jewelry to put items up for sale, but I did get lots of phone calls and emails, mostly from Japanese customers.
We always have so many customers looking for your work, I imagine you have lots of orders, what is a typical work week like for you?
I am always behind, with Bo’s help I am able to get 20 – 25 pieces done a week, never enough to keep up.
That’s a good thing, right?
Yes, it is nice to be busy.
Thanks.
